Congratulations, by the way

''We''re lucky to have him'' Jonathan Franzen
''A morally passionate, serious writer'' Zadie Smith

''Here''s something I know to be true, although it''s a little corny, and I don''t quite know what to do with it: What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.''

Three months after George Saunders gave a convocation address at Syracuse University, a transcript of that speech was posted on the website of The New York Times, where its simple, uplifting message struck a deep chord. Within days, it had been shared more than one million times.

Why? Because Saunders''s words tap into a desire in all of us to lead kinder, more fulfilling lives. Powerful, funny, and wise, Congratulations, by the way is an inspiring message from one of today''s most influential and original writers.